Dehumidifying apparatus



April 7, 1953 c. A. CHAMBERLAIN DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet1 flFled Sept. 28, 1946 April 7,1953 Y c. A. CHAMBERLAIN- DEHUMIDIFYINGAPPARATUS 1o sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 April 7,A 1953 c. A.CHAMBERLAIN 2,633,928

DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1946 l 10 Sheets-Sheet I5 iig-5-ATTORNEY AP 7, 1953 c. A. CHAMBERLIAYIN A 2,633,928

DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 28 1946 INvENToR(V557-fe fl.' MwaEM/N ATTORNEY A 7, 1953 c. A. cHAMBl-:RLAINDEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUSv lOvSheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 INVENTORfsre (7m/vase aw WMM' April 7, 195s C. A. CHAMBERLAIN DEHUMIDIFYINGAPPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 INVENroE Il/5726@CMV/wafeuw fw/M7 ATToeNEY APl'l 7, 1953 c. A. cHAMBi-:RLAIN 2,633,928

DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEYApril 7, 1953 c. A. CHAMBERLAIN DEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet9 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 WJJIQIP ATTORNEY April 7, 1953 c. A. CHAMBERLAINDEHUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed sept. 2s, 194e ATTO R NEY Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE DEHUMIDIFYINGAPPARATUS Chester A. Chamberlain, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 28, 1946, Serial No. 700,065

(Cl. 18S-4.1)

5 Claims.

This invention relates to dehumidifying apparatusand has as its primaryobject the provision of simple, compact, inexpensive, and effectivedehumidifying apparatus of a character which may be readily utilized inthe home, in an office, in a laboratory, in an enclosure for machineryor delicate instruments, or in any other space where problems ofdangerous, oppressive, or otherwise undesirable humidity exist.

Another object is the provision of improved means for renderingdehumidifying apparatus automatically responsive to its own condition soiat it will operate effectively and eiciently at all mes.

Another object is the vprovision of improved means for drying dishes.

Still other objects are the provision of improved means for dryingfoodstuffs or maintaining them in a dry condition, and maintainingproper atmospheric conditions about clothes.

Other objects of the invention will `in part be obvious and wil-l inpart appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

Atmospheric humidity is an important factor in causing corrosion.Ordinary atmospheric air contains sufficient moisture to cause brightmetal surfaces to corrode and many other materials to mildew, rot andmold if exposed continuously. Corrosion will notoccur in the absence ofwater and in a clean atmosphere if the relative humidity is maintainedat 20% or below.

. vRust preventive treatment of many metal surfaces can be accomplishedsuccessfully by the use of suitable protective coatings such as paint,liquid petroleum coatings, and strippable plastic coatings. In manycases, however, such methods are impractical. For example, storedelectrical equipment cannot be maintained in operable condition ifcontaminated with moisture, and it is often difficult to applyprotective coatings to such equipment. Bronze or brass fittings such asswitches will tarnish if exposed for long periods of time in atmospheresof high relative humidity. A dry atmosphere also protects aluminumfittings against deterioration from corrosion by saltladen air.

' Very many types of dehumidifying and air conditioning apparatus havegone into general use or have been proposed for use in the last decade.Many of these are of the type which are only mildly effective or whichare unreliable, While many others are so complex and expensive as to beimpractical for use in most cabinets, compartments, kitchens, individualoffices, small rooms, closets, or other enclosures of limited extentwhere the need for the protection of instruments and delicate machinesand apparatus and for the comfort of persons working or living withinthe enclosures is often of great importanceusually of even greaterimportance than the needs in such enclosures as are now equipped Withthe common complicated air conditioning apparatus. Cabinets in whichmachine tools and precision instruments are used or stored, cabinets forstoring surgical or dental instruments, and cabinets for storing dryfoodstuffs are-a few among many possible examples of rooms where theneed for such dehumidiiiers remains urgent in spite of the many types ofdehumidifying means already on the market. Such needs have continued formany years and still remain unsatised and it is tc satisfy such needsthat the present invention is primarily designed.

Pursuant to the invention in its major aspects there is provideddehumidifying apparatus employing moisture absorbent material which canabsorb a large amount of water while occupying a small amount of space.Of these, silica gel and generally equivalent materials, such, forexample, as the silica-containing petroleum-baseproduct known as SovaBead, are most desirable, but in certain instances activated alumina,activated bauxite, and activated carbon granules may be used, ormixtures of materials, as of 'activated carbon and silica gel, may beemployed. `Po`wer blower means of a type which is .insertable in a smallspace is provided. This is inserted in a single compact conduit forwhich there are provided ports having valve means arranged to give aunidirectional flow for interspersed absorption and activation cycles.In its simplest form the invention provides a straight line conduit. Incertain of its aspects the invention provides an infra-red lamp for.drying the absorbent material, and a canister especially adapted for usetherewith and preferably providing a layerof absorbent material ofsubstantially uniform thickness between perforate walls about or beyondthe lamp, and desirably both about and beyond it. In certain of itsaspects also it provides improved controlmeansfor initiating absorptionand restoration cycles.

In ordinary electric dish dryers the dishes have had to be placed in thedryer, then removed, and then placed in the dishV cabinet-a three-stepmanual operation which is often almost as troublesome as drying thedishes manually. In certain of its aspects, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of a dish-draining cabinet which is equippedwith dehumidifying means whereby the drying of dishes will require onlythe one manual operation of putting the dishes in the cabinet-anoperation which would have been necessary even if the dishes hadremained unused.

For a fuller-understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description takerv inconnection with the accompanying, drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of foneform of" device embodying theinvention, most of .the cover. being cut away;

Fig. 2 is another perspective View with only part of the cover out away;

Fig; 3is;a;.perspective1view of thefscanister.;l

Fig. 4l-is a sectionalview alongthe. lineJi---fl4 offEg; Y1;

Fig. 5; is: a sectional view` alongtheflinel--. of; Fig;l 1.;

Eig. 6fis;a fragmentary sectionaLdetail View alongthe line 6-6 of.v Fig.5;

Fig; 7 isasimilar View along therline "l-'I or Fig..v 5;;

Fig. 7a, is. a detailview ofthe mounting. for the shaft;

Fig. 8,.'is; anelectrical diagram;r

Fig.,9 is. a side View of analternatvef form Withz the;- cover. cut.away;

Figzl0isra sectional View along the-line.. I Il-l ll of1Fg. ,9;

Eig: 111s.: a sectionaldetaillview along.- theeline- Figzil isia viewvsimilar to Fig,v .ll-showingza modified: form'V of Y construction;

Fig: 1.6. is: ai, sectional detail, view' along the 1I1e|5.-|6;20f Fg.15;

Fig-.117 isga view similar to. Fig, `showingg'amV other.' modified.forml ofv construction;

Eigiris .a perspective interior View of aikitchen' containing a:dehumidifyingf. unit embodying` the` invention;

Fig.v 19,' iss a: perspective-view of aa tool cabinet embodying the;invention;

Figi.` Z0-is. 'af-perspective.- view of a: dishdrier. embodyingtheinvention;

Fig..21.is;a perspective view of a food cabinet embodying the`invention;

22.1is a perspective'view` of a clothescabinet embodying the. invention;and

Figs.v 23, 24, and 25 show respectively a closet, a,v bathroom, anda'bcat embodying the'invention.

The form of construction shownin Figs. 1,8 comprises a casing I0 which,in the present infv stance, embodiesabacli Hand a cover I2; Thebackcarries at its ends- I3 and Mandendfmember.`4 I5; and.V I0. Thecover ts tightlyl over the endg-members and the side.- edges of. the:back, so that the casing I3 is fully enclosed except for fourtports.These ports, in the present instance, comprise a lateral port 2l in thecover leadingtoftheend I3, a. lateral port 22.4 in thel cover leadingfrom the end I4, a rear port 23 in the back leading to the end I3 and arear port 24 in the back leading from the end I4. Channels 25 lead fromeach of the ports 23 and 24 to each of two rectangular openings 26 andchannels 2 lead from each of the ports 2I and 22 to each of tworectangular openings 28. Hinged doors 28 and 30, at the ends I3 and I4respectively, are adapted to be moved between the position shown in Fig.1, where; they close the openings'28 and* the position shown in Fig. 4,where they close the openings 26. The two doors 29 and 30 are fixed on ashaft 3I having an arm 32e (see Fig. 6) by which it is adapted to berotated in one direction to move the doors to a positionwhere they closethe lateral ports, or to beerotated inthegopposite direction to aposition wherein they close the rear ports. As will be seeni au screen33 is provided for each of the ports in the present instance.

The back, andcover. provide. a. conduit: 3&111111- ning in. astraightline from the.end; I3 to, the end. I4.. .Iustbeyond the end member. I5there isprovidedan additionalscreen 35; and beyond this is'a fan39,-.driven by amotor 40; and a timer. 4I together with-.suitable wiringand' accessories. The Yfan..39.is, in thepresentinstance, a' barreltypefan, andthe-motor 4I},is;a, unidirectional motor. The-timer.'4I,as-fexemplied, is of the type exemplied .in theHaydonRatent 2,353,305.,the.l operating shaft. serving: to drive.

cam .42; to. actuate;V micro-switch.4 43' (seefFig. 4) This arrangement.isadvantageous "because-of its compactness and effectiveness, but anysuitable type of. timer may bei` used, and.' other'types of controldevices, such, forinstance; as. thosehere` inafter. laeielnplied, maybe? employedi are advantageous. inn certain: instances; Beyond thetimer, in the present instance, is:a baille .413 which extends entirelyacross.; the.- conduitexcept' for an annular 'openinggll' in tliecentral portion of whichis. a mountingl 46gfor afzgenerally cylindricallamp v4l. Beyond the baille; 442; and .surrounding the 'lamp 41. is.' avcanister: 50 adapted;` to contain absorbent granules. 5| such, forinstance, as silical gel granules; The.. canister:v has; a tubularportion'V with va perforate;v annular.v wall facing said' annularopening, a perforateexternal cylindrical wall.slightly; larger. thanithe.- opening, and` an internal .cylindrical wail large' enough toreadily receive; said'jlamn; andha'sanend portion dis posed: beyond'.the far: end.'l ofv the: lamp; and formed .witha smallcircularperforateinear 'wall anda largezcicular perforate'- farfwa'll.Pursuant: to.: thea present invention; the" end portion has the samethickness-rasihetulcular'portion so that; in' general, the -raysofi thelamp' will penetratef, the: same amountforwardly and laterally, and. so.that. theresistanceV to ow will, be gen'- erally similar thruout.Desirablyl there.. areemployed ,granulesA which, will pass a Gimeshsieve, butwill not pass a 16-mesh sieve; The-canister should be spacedbetween M1" and1/2" from the lamp in most instances.

Desirably the lamp is of-av typedesigned to radiate a; highl proportion;of. infra-red rays having a maximum; drying effect; and the'distancebetweentheinternal walls of-thecanister and the lamp,y 41 'asshown;The1unit"asshown is adapted .to containV 1'.2..pouncls ofVv silicav gel.In general lamps of from 4,000 A. U. to 24,500 A. U. give effectiveresults: The lampwd'l may be-av 250 watt llamp adapted toY radiate11,000 A. U. A heat of25.0" F. attheA interior of the canister at itsnear end and'350. F.' atitsfar end. The gelis desirably heated to from212 F. to 500 F'. Effective results have also been obtained with 90 wattlamps of 11,000 A. U. Desirably in such instances a canister having acontent of 0.5 pound of silica gel is employed. The inner and outerwalls and the annular forward wall of the container 50 are desirablyformed of perforated copper sheet having 225 holes .039 inch in diameterper square inch of area as shown.

. The device is drawn to scale. As exemplied it has a width of ve andone-eighths inches and a thickness of five inches; and the canister hasan outer diameter of three and seven-eighths inches.

The baille prevents the flow of air thru the casing except thru theopening 45. The canister 50 and the baie member 44 are in the presentinstance made as one removable unit, a slot 53 being formed inthe backto admit the lower edge of the baille member. The lamp in the presentinstance is of such character that it may be secured in the mounting 46before the unit 44-50 has been slid into place.

There is provided a socket 60 into which there may be plugged leads 6|from an electric circuit,

'and there is provided a hand switch 62 for turning the electricalinstallation on and 01T. When the switch 62 is in on position, the fanmotor 40 and the `timer are energized. Thus whenever thedevice is inoperation the fan 39 is being rotated by the motor 40 so as to draw airfrom one or the other of the ports at the end I3 and to discharge airthru one or the other of the ports at the end I4. In order to controlthe desired type of ow, the timer operates a solenoid 65 at suitableintervals thru the medium of the micro-switch 43. When the solenoid 65is energized the arm 32 and the shaft 3| are rotated in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 6). To facilitate the movement of the shaft 3|, it ismounted on a gimbal bearing as shown in Fig. 11. When the solenoid 65 isde-energized a spring 66 rotates the rod 3| in a counter-clockwisedirection (Fig. 6). The lamp is in circuit with the solenoid and is thusactivated only when the ilow is between one set of portsthe rear portsin the present instance-so as not to heat the iiowing air during thedehumidifying portion of the cycle but only during the reactivationportion of the cycle.

The canister, containing 1.2 pounds of silica gel, provides a highabsorptive capacity while occupying a small space. The device isexcellently adapted for use in positions where there is very littleavailable space.

In operation the switch 62 is moved to "on position and, assuming thetimer is on the absorption portion or its cycle, the fan will suck airthru the port 2| and drive it thru the absorption means in the canister50 and out of the port 22. This `will continue until the timer changescycle whereupon the solenoid 65 will be energized and the doors 29 and30 moved to open the ports 23 and 24 and close the ports 2| and 22. Atthe same time the lamp 41 will be energized and the reactivation cyclewill commence, with heat applied to the absorption means and dry airdrawn in and moisture-laden air discharged. Desirably the speed of flow.'is 15-20 are provided channels |25 and |21 similar to the channels 25and. 21 leading to openings |26 and |28 which -in the present instanceare circular rather than rectangular but which are otherwise similar tothe openings 26 and 28. Circular doors |29 and |30 are mounted on shaft|3| which is carried on gimbal mountings as at |3|a adapted to berotated by an arm |32 to move the doors so as to close 01T the channels|21 when in one position or the channels |28 when in the other position.As will be seen the conduit |34 passes thru two right angles instead ofextending in a straight line as does the conduit 34, but the arrangementhas the advantage that in spite of the large capacity of the operatingelements which it contains it is exceedingly compact being only 181/2inches long,

10%i inches wide, and 6% inches thick.

The door |29 operates in a space |31 leading.

except for the larger size and eiectiveness thereof. The lamp in thepresent instance is 250 watts and 11,000 A. U. A difference in thecanister is that the distance between the inner and outer furthercircular walls thereof is only half the distance between the inner andouter cylindrical walls. This is because of the provision beyond thefurther end of the canister |50 of a separate wafer-like canister |5|containing the sarneabsorbent material as the canister |50 andconstructed similarly.V The wafer |5| is of a thickness equal tosubstantially half the distance between the inner and outer cylindricalwalls of the canister |50, so that it, with the canister |50 providesabsorptive material for substantially a uniform distance about thecentral cavity which contains the lamp |41. The canister is adapted tocontain about 5.5 pounds of silica gel. A ow varyingfrom thirty cubicfeet per minute at 90-95% saturation to fty cubic feet per minute at5-'7 saturation is desirable.

The wafer |5| serves as a portion of a weight control mechanism which inthe present form of construction replaces the timer. is carried on anarm |52 pivoted thru gimbalbearings |52c (like l3nt) at |54 and carryinga lateral extension |55 which is adapted to operate the micro-switch |43whenever the weight of the wafer |5| over-balances the pull of a spring|56. Thus an absorption cycle will continue until the wafer |5| reachesan undesirable degree of saturation, whereupon the tension of the spring|56.(having been properly set by adjusting means |51) will be overcomeso as to operate the microswitch. This will cause the lamp |41 to belighted and cause the solenoid to move the arm |32 against the pull of aspring |65 so as to swing the doors |29 and |30 from the position inwhich they shut the ports |23 and |24 to the position shown in Fig. 9wherein they shut ofi' the ports 52| and |22. The activation cycle willthus be started and will continue until enough moisture has beeneliminated from the silica gel in the canister and in the wafer |5| sothat the weightv of the wafer will again be unable to overcome the pullof the spring |56,` whereupon the spring I 56 willi-cause.l a y'reverseloperation off the* micro-- switch. I 43..

Thereziszshown inFig; 13 a-circuitarrangement wherein the operation of.theshaft- |3I: will be caused'. immediately'v upon. the reverseoperation ofthe micro-switch, the arrangement being generally similar tothat shown in-Fig. 8. In certain instances, however, it'isdesirable .tohave a circuit arrangementsuch asshown inFig. lfiwherein the lamp is.turnedei a short time: before the commencementof the absorptionportionof thecycleto. clean outthe warm and moisture-laden' Inthisform.of' ar-` air from thef conduit |34. rangement, asexemplified'iniigs.9-12 and 14,- there. is providedaztime delay relay- Ilwvhich is incircuit with the micro-switch andis-designed to remain. energizedA f orl. a given perio d one' min-l ute as exempliiied-after the. micro-switchhas broken. the main. circuit. A. branch |39 of a leadJI-I is. inparallel with the microfswitch and isfadapted to be brokenby thetime-delay relay only after its` delaying function. The time-delaylrelay |63 thus. servesto. keep the. solenoid |55.

across the pathof. ow of; the.r air. from whichv moisture is: to be,or.A preferably and as exemplified has .-been, absorbed. For instance inthe formof construction of. Figs. Q'and l0 there isprovided anultraviole-t lamp I'lllV adapted to give out rays acrossthepath of dehumidiedair which. In this' is approaching the exhaust port |22. manner the airmay be cleared of all harmful organisms effectively and simply. Inaddition the provision of .a lamp I'I is highly desirablewhen food;clothes, or other material which might be adversely affected byorganisms is to be contained in .the enclosure with which the unit isemployed.

Incertain instances wherea particularly high degree of. accuracy isdesired it. is-preferablev to` have the entire canister actztoloperatethe micro switch. One suchformpfarrangement isfshown inEig.wherein all the parts except thefcanister and balance arrangement are.similar. to. thoserof ligs.v 9 and 10. In the present instance,-however,v the canister' I 80 insteadv of being secured' to the baille ldis pivotally mounted on pivoted arms. |32-, being in substanceacombination of the-canister |50 with thewafer. |5I. Diaphragm I83-isprovided between the baille and the canister |80. The arms |82 operatemicro-switch |43. Astronger spring Iat replaces thespring-` |56.

Electrical rather than gravity moisture-responsive. means areadvantageous. for usein certain thecanister |90 is formed with a recess|92` Thev wafer ISI is formed of transparent material; and anelectriceye |93 is .disposed on the outside of thewafer and alamp |94- in therecess |92. The

electric eye. is coimect'ed'-witha; circuitfclosing'-A relayil I 94 byelectrical Y.conducting means: I 95.

One -of the. many places` in whichdehumidifying units such asexemplified may be advantageously usedin accordancewith-.theinventionzis exemplified in Fig. 18 wherein there is. shown aHkitchen containing a dehumidifying unit. 20B" which may be a unit suchas that of. Fig. 1 with. the portsv 2|y and 22 opening intov the.kitchen". and'theports 23 and-*Zrl-opening to the outer: air.

Another' application is exemplified in Fig. 19 wherein there. is shownaunit 30 disposed-inaN cabinet 30| having doors SIIZ'and 303 and'adaptedto contain various types of comparators, jewelers-f lathes, ball-bearingcontainers, etc; Within. the cabinet 3M is ahydrostat.35fadaptedto'close; the circuit between leads.: 36 I andleads,1368; from:V aV power supply line. The leads: 36| are. adapted?. when.connected tothe leads, 368;to; supplyenergy for. operating` partsinthe'v same manner: 'as-the; leads 6| and 6|. Oncetherunit3|l|;hasextracted` the necessary amount of humidity from theair' in theenclosure 30|, however,.thelhydrostat'willi disconnect. the leads. from.the leadse 368' s0 that there will be no: wasteful operation of the'-unit 360. However, when thedoorshavebeeni opened to remove f or: replacea tool' or? accessory, o1' when natural leakage.v causes4 the humiditywithin thecabinet 30|A to rise, the;hydrostat:willr again. close thecircuitand the unit`30|llwill.oper' ate. If .thefunit 30|).happens" tobe atzanactivation. stage ofits cycle it will quicklydryitself and then,before. any vsignificant .damagehas lbeen' done by themoisturethat'hasf-enteredthe cabi-- net, will.dehumidify'the-cabinet. Thus thetools and accessories inthe cabinet. will always be kept" in a y dry and.safe condition;regardless of: shut; downs of'. the; planteven. tho,due' toiunexpected'i conditions suchasstorms or strikes. When shut--downs occur; the.- unit will operate only when necessary, but Vwilloperate surely and effectively; thus achieving` a: maximum ofv safetytogetherwitha maximum of economy.

Another: application; of units such as hereinbefore exempliliedis,Vaccording to the invention, dish drying apparatus. Onesuch apparatus isexemplified in. Eig; 20. and comlurisesl a'unit 403 in.anenclosure.-ll0|. having doors142 andllIlS;` Ultra-violet lamps Millareprovided to sterilize' the dishes. 'Ihe cabinet exemplified;comprisesfaf shelf 406 carrying a dish: rack Milan-da silver drain 408.Additional. racks dill-'and af glassreceiving t space. 489: areprovided' on lthebottom floor. Cups may he hungasi shown.

The shelf 40s is provided-.with drain means:

III'I. leading` tothe open-work'and: silver-drain, andthexbottomioorofthe cabinet is provided" withY drain.means 418. leading to asump H9vvbeneath thesilver-drain from which a-vpipe420" leads.'Iliepipe'desirablyand as exemplied'is'- of suiiicient size to readilycarry' away the drainage but of such size and length' thatvmoistureladen air will not readily enter the enclosure" therethru. 42|and 422 opening into the cabinet and' with` portsV 423 and 42d openingout ofthe cabinet: andi may be ofanyfof thel types contemplated by theinvention'. including those heretofore exemplified.

Still. another application of' the exemplified units andarrangementcontemplated by the inventi'on incertain of' its aspects isexemplied inFig. 21 where there is shown a unit 500 adapted to.`dehumidify: a. focall cabinet which may contain cereals; crackers,toast, dehumidied The unit 400 is formed with portsv vegetables, driedsoups, foods to be dried, spices, salt, and various other comestibles.The enclosure 50| is provided with doors 502 and 503 and in the presentinstance with a shelf 506. The unit 500 in the present instance isdisposed outside rather than inside the cabinet 50| by the ports 52| and522 are connected with the interior of the cabinet. The ports 523 and524 are adapted to draw air from without the cabinet and discharge itoutside of the cabinet.

An additional application is for protecting clothes as indicated at 599in Fig. 22. A unit 600 such as heretofore exemplified is provided in acabinet 60| having doors 602 and 603.

Still other applications are shown in Fig. 23 Where the unit '|00 isshown in `a clothes closet; Fig. 24 where the unit 800 is shown in abathroom; and Fig. 25 where the unit 900 is shown in the cabin of aboat.

I claim:

1. Dehumidifying apparatus comprising an elongated member having a pairof ports at one end, a pair of ports at the other end, valve means forsaid ports, said member comprising a conduit extending in a direct linebetween said pairs of ports, a fan in said conduit, a canister removablydisposed in said conduit and having a `cylindrical portion adapted toreceive radiant means, said cylindrical portion being formed with aperforate inner wall surrounding said radiant means and with a perforateouter wallspaced from the sides of said conduit, baffle means preventinggasilow thru said conduit except thru said canister, and timer means tooperate said valve means.

2. Dehumidifying apparatus comprising an elongated member having a pairof ports at one end, a pair of ports at the other end, valve means forsaid ports, said member comprising a conduit extending in a direct linebetween said pairs of ports, a fan in said conduit, a canister removablydisposed in said conduit and having a cylindrical portion adapted toreceive radiant means, an electric heating element, said cylindricalportion being formed with a perforate inner wall surrounding saidradiant means and with a perforate outer wall spaced from the sides ofsaid conduit, baffle means preventing gas-flow thru said conduit exceptthru said canister, and means for operating said valve means in responseto the amount of moisture in a moisture absorbent sub- Y stance in saidconduit.

10 the rst body of moisture-absorbent material is absorbing moisture andto lose water when said first body of moisture-absorbent material islosing water, and means controlled by said electric eye to control theoperation of said passage permitting means.

4. Dehumidifying apparatus comprising a canister, moisture-absorbentmaterial in the canister, a hollow within the canister, an infra-redradiant element in said hollow, a Ibody of moistureabsorbent materialsubject to color changes upon absorption of moisture and loss ofmoisture and subject to moisture-receiving and moistureyieldingconditions at the same time that that in said canister is subject tosuch conditions, an electric eye responsive to control changes in saidbody, and means controlled by said electric eye to control theenergizationof said radiant element.

5. Dehumidifying apparatus comprising a back, a forwardly extendingbaille plate, an absorbing unit carried by said plate, a groove in saidback for the reception of the edge of said plate to permit the removalof said plate and said absorbing unit, a radiant element within saidabsorbing unit, mounting means for said radiant element carried by saidplate, means adapted to cooperate with said back to provide a flowcasing, and a fan and a control member therefor within said casing, saideasing being provided with ports at its end portions, and valve means tocontrol the flow thru said ports.

CHESTER A. CHAMBERLAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,206,977 Batter Dec. 5, 19161,499,903 Beck July 1, 1924 1,920,914 Poggel Aug. 1, 1933 2,066,847McShea Jan. 5, 1937 2,075,036 Hollis Mar. 30, 1937 2,083,732 Moore et alJune 15, 1937 2,095,502 Johnston Oct. 12, 1937 2,106,838 Gates Feb. 1,1938 2,124,268 Williams July 19, 1938 2,136,618 Hull Nov. 15, 19382,178,445 Warneke Oct. 31, 1939 2,181,672 Sutcliffe et al Nov. 28, 19392,221,351 Kempf Nov. 12, 1940 2,248,225 Fonda July 8, 1941 2,257,487Tenney Sept. 30, 1941 2,328,129 Earle Aug. 3l, 1943 2,355,014 SchornAug. 1, 1944 2,411,039 Heuser Nov. 12, 1946

